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 In a study on the levy's health impacts, researchers found the
positive effect would be greatest if the drinks industry responds by
reformulating products to cut sugar content, rather than keep the
same formulations but raise prices to consumers.
The planned levy is tiered, starting from no tax on diet and low
sugar drinks, a low tax on mid-sugar drinks containing 5 to 8 grams
(g) of sugar per 100 millilitres (ml), and a high tax on very sugary
drinks containing 8g or more per 100 ml.
The government's health department says sugary drinks are the single
biggest source of sugar for children, who can have more than their
recommended daily intake just by drinking a can of cola, which has
nine teaspoons of sugar.
The scientists studied three possible reactions by companies to the
levy. They could reformulate drinks to reduce sugar content, pass
some of the levy to consumers by raising the price of sugary drinks,
or use marketing to encourage consumers to switch to lower sugar
drinks.
The Lancet Public Health journal published the results.
For each scenario, the researchers mapped a realistic better and
worse case scenario for health by estimating the likely impact on
rates of obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
"The good news is that our study suggests that all of the most
likely industry responses ... have the potential to improve health,"
said Adam Briggs of Oxford University, who led the study. "The
extent of the health benefits of the tax will depend on industry's
response."
In opting for a sugar tax, Britain joins Belgium, France, Hungary
and Mexico, all of which have imposed some form of tax on drinks
with added sugar. Scandinavian countries have levied similar taxes
for many years.
According to the study's modeling, a 30 percent reduction in sugar
content of all high-sugar drinks and a 15 percent reduction in
mid-sugar drinks could result in 14,400 fewer adults and children
with obesity, 19,000 fewer cases of type 2 diabetes a year, and
26,900 fewer decaying teeth annually.
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Passing on half of the cost of the levy to consumers with a price
rise for high and mid-sugar drinks of up to 20 percent could reduce
the number of adults and children with obesity by 81,600, result in
10,800 fewer diabetes cases and 14,900 fewer decaying teeth a year.
Speaking to reporters at a briefing in London, Briggs and his team
said the most likely real-life response from industry would probably
involve a combination of the scenarios in the study, which might
mean the benefits could increase.
"The direction of the effect is clear," said Susan Jebb, an Oxford
professor who co-led the research. "This levy will have a positive
impact, especially on children's health."
(Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
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